Photographic developing apparatus.



PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908.

- Noi 890,379

A. SHERRIGK. PHOTOGRAPHIG DEVELOPING APPAR ATUS.'

APPLICATION FILED AUG.17, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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PATENTED JUNE 9 1908.

' A. SHERRIGK. PHOTOGRAPHIG DEVELOPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 17. 1907.

2 BHEETBrSHEET 2.

A raw a ALLYN SHERRIOK, OF LIMA, OHIO.

PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING APPARATUS.

Application filed August 17, 1907.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 9, 1908.

Serial No. 388,993.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLYN SHERRICK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lima, in the county of Allen and State of Ohio, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Photographic DevelopingApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in photographic developingapparatus, and more especially to the class that is capable of use inday light for developing, fixing and washing plates and other sensitizedmediums that have been previously exposed in the camera, and it has forits object to provide an improved device of this character wherein thenovel mode of mounting the plates relatively to the tank, and the methodof supporting the tank insure a circulation or How of the solution overevery portion of the plate so that the development, fixing and washingthereof is thorough and. uniform.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tank of this characterwherein the novel manner of mounting the plates therein not onlyproduces better results in the treatment of the plates, but an economyin the quantity of solution required is effected, and the size of thetank having a given capacity is reduced.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a tank or receptacle ofthis character that is capable of oscillation on either a longitudinalor a transverse axis, as may be desired, and also to provide an improvedcover which is both light and liquid tight, so that all the operationsof developing, fixing and washing may be accomplished in daylight exceptloading, which may be readily done in the dark room, and there is nodanger of spilling the solutions.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvements,and combina tions and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinaftermore fully described, the novel features being pointed out particularlyin the claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a side elevation of adeveloping tank constructed in accordance with the present invention,the developing tank being mounted in a frame or receptacle and partsbeing broken away to illustrate the interior construction of the tank.Fig. 2 is a plan view of the tank shown in Fig. 1.- Fig. 3 represents atransverse section of the tank, the mediate portions of the cover beingshown removed. Fig. 4 1s a l l. l l

plan view of a set of developing tanks constructed in accordance withthe present invention and operatively connected for simultaneousmovement. Fig. 5 shows the tank mounted for oscillation on alongitudinal axis, and Fig. 6 represents a transverse section of a tank,mounted as shown in Fig. 5-. Similar parts are designated by the samereference numerals in the several figures.

The developing apparatus shown in the present embodiment of my inventioncomrises generally a tank 1, that is substantially rectangular and maybe of any suitable dimensions that will be determined according to thesize of the plates or other sensitized mediums that are to be treatedtherein and also according to the capacity, and it may be composed ofaluminum or other suitable material, the top of the tank being open andadapted to receive a suitably constructed lid which is preferablycapable of excluding light from the sensitized plates within the tankand will prevent leakage of the solution during the movements of thetank.

In the present instance, the upper edge of the tank is provided with anout-turned flange 2, the peripheral edge of which is directed upwardlyto form a rim 3. Cooperat ing with the rim and flange is a double covercomposed of an inner member 4 and an outer member 7, the former having adown-turning flange 5 which is adapted to fit within the sides of thereceptacle or tank, and a periph eral rim 6 thereon is arranged to enterwithin the rim 3 of the tank and rest upon the flange 2 thereon. Theupper member 7 of the cover is similarly provided with a downturnedflange 8 which is adapted to snugly fit within the up-turned rim 3 onthe tank and bear upon the upper side of the outturned rim 6 of thelower cover member, thereby serving to retain the latter in place, anout-turned rim 9 on the upper cover member being arranged to engage theupper edge of the up-turned rim 3 on the tank.

In order to prevent accidental displacement of the cover members duringthe movements of the tank, and to insure a firm seating that willprevent leakage of light or liquid, it is preferable to provide suitablecover retaining devices, those shown in the present instance comprisingloops or bails 10 and 11 that are pivoted to the tank at points inproximity to its longitudinal ends, the inter bails being arranged toswing over the respective ends of the cover members. The bails in thepresent instance are provided at their free ends with eyes 12 and 18which cooperate with suitable pivot members 14 and 15 secured to theopposite sides of the tank, and in order to insure a firm closing of thecover, it is preferable to provide pairs of cams 16, 17 Which arearranged on the upper side of the upper cover member and have inclinedsurfaces 18 and 19 which cooperate with the respective bails as thelatter are moved into operative position, the inclined surfaces of thecams causing the cover members to obtain a firm seating on the tank.

.The developing, fixing and washing solutions are preferably introducedinto and discharged from the tank through a spout 20 which is preferablyarranged at one end of the tank and has an angle-shaped bend therein toprevent the passage of light, the spout shown in the present instancebeing in the shape of an elbow with its outer end turned upwardly so asto facilitate the introduction of the solution or liquid in thereceptacle and to prevent its accidental spilling. In order to economizein the quantity of solution required in the treatment of thephotographic materials, it is preferable to provide an in clinedpartition 2]. which extends across the tank and serves to divide off thecorner thereof.

The plates or other sensitized mediums are supported within the tank ina novel manner, that is to say, they are inclined relatively to theplane of the bottom of the tank, the plates in the present instancebeing supported on sets of racks 22 and 23 which are arranged on theopposite longitudinal walls of the tank and are spaced at suitableintervals longitudinally thereon, the racks being composed of rows ofribs 24 which extend diagonally from the upper edge of the tankdownwardly to a point in proximity to the bottom thereof, the lower endof each rib being turned laterally to' form a rest or support 25 for theplate or plates. These ribs may be spaced at any suitable distancerelatively to one another so that they may accommodate either a singleplate or a plurality of plates in the channels which are formed betweenthem. These racks may be either secured permanently Within the tank, orthey may be removable, as may be desirable, those shown being made up ofplates of zinc, aluminum, or other suitable metal corrugated to form theplate engaging ribs, and they are adapted to removably fit within thesides of the tank, the plates being connected by the pairs of upper andlower spacing bars 40 and 41 which serve to support the plates in properrelation while they are within the' tank, and enable the racks to bebodily removed therefrom so that not only can all the plates be removedat one time, but the interior of the tank is unto cooperate with thefilms. It is preferable plate racks that the lower ends thereof aredirected toward that end of the tank at which the spout is located, forthe reason that when so arranged, the drainage of the solution from theplates is facilitated.

Any suitable frame or receptacle may be provided to act as a supportwithin which the tank oscillates, that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 beingcomposed of a rectangular box 2(5,which is open at its upper side andprovided with oppositely arranged bearings 27, 28 to cooperate with apair of pivot pins or trunnions 29, 30 which project in alinement fromthe opposite longitudinal sides of the tank at a point midway of thelength thereof and provide a transverse axis about which the tank mayoscillate during the developing, fixing and washing operations. When son'ionntcd, the ends of the tank will be alternately elevated anddepressed, inducing a flow of the solution from one end of the tank tothe other, the plate racks beingso mounted therein that the lower edgesof the plates will be spaced above the bottom of the tank a distancesufficient to permit of the thorough circulation. of the solution.However, the tank will be filled to approximately one-third of its depthwith the solution, so that the lower edges or por tions of the platesare submerged therein, and as that end of the tank carrying the spout iselevated, the solution will flow towards the opposite end of the tank,those portions of the plates submerged in the solution acting asdeflectors, and thereby diverting the solution so that it will flow in afilm over each plate, passing over the upper edges thereof and returningto the bottom of the tank when the latter is tilted in an oppositedirection, the thorough circulation of the solution insuring uniformchemical action on the plates.

In using the tank for commercial purposes, a large number of plates maybe treated, simultaneously by arranging the tanks in a multiple set,such as that shown in Fig. i, the pivots or trunnions of a plurality oftanks being joined so as to give a simultaneous tilting movement to allthe tanks in the set, a single receptacle or frame 3] serving to supportthe several tanks.

In some cases it may be desirable to oscillate or tilt the tank on alongitudii'ial axis, and in order that this result may be accomplished,it is preferable to provide the longitudinal ends of the receptacle withsuitable bearings 32 and 33 which are adapted inner ends of a pair ofpivot pins 34 and 35 which extend through opposite walls of thereceptacle 26, such a construction permitting a tilting movement of thetank on alongitudinal axis.

A developing tank constructed in accordance with the present inventionis capable of to so arrange the obstructed and then adapted to receiveuncut 1 being manipulated during developing, fixing and washing of thenegatives in daylight, it being necessary to use the dark room only inloading the tank with the plates, and this may be accomplished easily byslipping the plates into the channels formed between the inclined ribswhich constitute the plate supporting racks, the cover members beingreplaced and fastened before the tank is taken from the dark room, andin practice the inclined arrangement of the plates relatively to thebottom of the tank insures a thorough circulation of the solution overthe lates, and as it is necessary to only partly rill the tanks with thesolution, an economy in the amount of the solution required is efiected. Moreover, the thorough circulation of the solution stimulateschemical action to such an extent as to materially reduce the timerequired in the developing and fixing operation.

It will be understood of course that while the tank shown in the presentembodiment of the invention is particularly adapted for use in thetreatment of photogra hic plates wherein the glass provides a rigidaching or support for the film, the invention is not so limited, as theusual fiexible films that have been previously out according to thedifferent exposures may be readily inserted into the channels providedfor the plates, and the uncut films having a plurality of exposuresthereon, may be developed and otherwise treated in the usual way, thatis to say, by dipping portions of their lengths into the tank, the platesupporting racks preferably projecting only partially across the tank sothat they may not obstruct the tank when so used in cases where theracks are permanently fastened within the tank, and in those caseswherein the racks are detachable, they may be readily removed toaccommodate the films.

I claim as my invention 1. A photographic developing tank having meanstherein extending continuously from the upper part to approximately thebottom of the tank for supporting the sensitized medium at an inclinerelatively to the plane of the bottom of the tank.

2. A photographic developing tank having means therein extendingcontinuously from the top to approximately the bottom of the tank forsupporting the sensitized medium at an incline relatively to the planeof the bottom of the tank and with the lower edge of the said mediumspaced above the bottom to provide a passage for the solution.

3. In a photographic apparatus of the character described, thecombination with a tank for the solution, of sets of racks havinginwardly projecting ribs extending continuously from the upper part toapproxi mately the bottom of the tank and forming channels spacedlongitudinally of the tank and lying in planes inclined relatively tothe plane of the bottom of the tank and adapted to receive thesensitized medium.

l. In a photographic apparatus of the character described, thecombination with a suitable tank for the solution, of sets of platereceiving racks arranged in the opposite longitudinal walls of the tank,each rack being composed of a set of inwardly projecting ribs extendingcontinuously from the top to a point adjacent to the bottom of the tankand having laterally turned portions forming rests for spacing the loweredges of the plates above the bottom of the tank.

5. In a photographic developing apparatus, the combination with a tankfor the solution, of supporting racks for the sensitized mediumextending partially across the interior of the tank and continuous fromthe top to approximately the bottom of the tank and forming a set ofchannels inclined relatively to the plane of the bottom of the tank.

6. A light tight photographic plate developing tank having means forsupporting a row of plates in inclined position and spacedlongitudinally of the tank, the upper and lower horizontal edges of theplates being spaced slightly from the corresponding adjacent walls ofthe tank to provide narrow passages for conducting the developingsolution longitudinally of the tank, the inclined spaces between theplates being arranged to receive the solution from said longitudinalpassages and to pass it over the plates in the form of films.

7. A photographic developing apparatus comprising a tank provided with aliquid and light-tight cover, means for supporting a row oflongitudinally spaced plates in inclined position and for sealing thevertical edges of the plates to the passage of fiuid between them andthe sides of the tank, the plates being supported with their upper andlower edges slightly spaced from the top and bottom of the tank to formnarrow longitudinal fluid passages, and means for pivoting the tank on atransverse axis to induce a llow of solution longitudinally through saidpassages and obliquely through the spaces between the plates during therocking move ments of the tank.

8. In a photographic developing appara tus, the combination with aliquid and light-tight tank for the solution, and means for supportingit for movement on a transverse axis, of means for supporting a row ofsensitized mediums spaced. longitudinally and extending transversely ofthe tank and in inclined relation to the bottom thereof, said supportingmeans extending continu ously from the upper portion to approximatelythe bottom of the tank vertical edges of the plates to the passage ofthe solution.

9. In a photographic developing apparatus, the combination with a liquidand lightto seal the tight tank for the solution, and means forsupporting it for movement on a transverse axis, of a pair of racksarranged on the longitudinal walls of the tank and extendingcontinuously from the upper portion to approximately the bottom thereof,the racks having plate receiving grooves inclined relatively to theplane of the bottom of the tank to receive a series of plates standingon edge and spaced above the said bottom to form a return passage forthe solution below the plates.

10. The combination with a tank having an out-turned flange on its upperedge, and an upturned rim surrounding the flange, of a lower covermember having a down-turned flange adapted to enter within the sides ofthe tank, and a rim adapted to enter within the rim of the receptacleand. cooperate with the flange of the tank and an upper cover memberhaving a downturned flange bearing upon the lower cover member andcentered within the upturned flange on the tank.

11. The combination with a tank having an out-turned flange on its upperedge, and an upturned rim surrounding the flange, of a cover for closingthe tank embodying a memher having a flange to enter within the sides ofthe tank and a rim to enter within the rim of the tank and cooperatewith the flange thereof, a second cover member hav ing a down-turnedflange adapted to lit within and cooperate with the rim of the tank andhaving a peripheral rim adapted to overlap and cooperate with the upperedge of the rim on the tank, and fastening devices for securing thecover members in cooperative relation with one another and with thetank.

12. In a photographic developing apparatus, the combination with atankfor the solution, and a light and liquid excluding cover fitting thetank, of means for detachably locking the cover upon the tank embodyinga pair of bails pivotally attached to one of the parts or points inproximity to its ends, and cams on the other part having inclinedsurfaces arranged to cooperate with the said bails.

13. In a photographic developing apparatus, the combination with a tankfor the solution, of a plate supporting device enibodying a pair ofoppositely arranged racks removably fitting within the tank and havingsets of inwardly projecting ribs extending continuously from the upperportion to approximately the bottom of the tank and forming platereceiving channels, and cross pieces connecting the racks and. servingto retain them in proper relation.

14. In a photographic developing apparatus, the combination with a tankfor the solution, of a pair of plate supporting racks adapted to fitwithin the tank, each rack being composed of a plate having a set ofcorrugations extending continuously from the upper portion toapproximately the bottom of the tank in an inclined direction relativelyto the bottom of the tank and forming a plurality of plate-receivingchan nels.

15. A tank for developing photographic plates having racks arranged onthe opposite sides thereof and provided with corrugations extending inslanting relation to the bottom of the tank for supporting a series ofplates in inclined position to form a series of inclined passages forthe developing solution, and a liquid and light tight cover fitting thetop of the tank and spaced above the upper edges of the plates forconfining the developing solution within the tank and for excludinglight during the developing operation.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

ALLYN SHERRIUK. I/Vitnesses:

J. F. Baum, (J. F. Hucnns.

